Diversity needed in London’s housebuilding industry, says FMB

Published: 08 August, 2014

London’s housebuilding industry needs to be more open to competitiveness and diversity if the number of new homes required in the capital is to be delivered, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has said.

“The London Assembly Housing Committee’s call to the Mayor of London to use his power to enable greater competition and diversity in the London housebuilding market is a welcome initiative, because we desperately need more smaller housebuilders to deliver a wider variety of homes,” said Brian Berry, FMB chief executive.

“The Mayor has been right to set ambitious targets for the number of new homes London needs to build. If this is to be achieved, it will require utilising the full capacity of the small and medium-sized housebuilding sector. As the Housing Committee has rightly recognised, breaking larger sites down into smaller parcels is one way in which public authorities can support a healthier, more diverse housebuilding industry.”

Mr Berry concluded: “We are also very pleased to see the Housing Committee making clear that the Mayor must avoid acting in a way which reduces competition in the market. The London Development Panel is worryingly exclusive, involving only 25 large contractors and housebuilders. It is extremely important that the Greater London Authority finds more flexible and dynamic framework arrangements, with streamlined processes, which will allow smaller firms fair access to public sector land.”